Late Innings

As everyone knows by now, the Orioles optioned top catching prospect Matt Wieters to Triple A Norfolk yesterday. For most people near Baltimore, this isn’t a surprise, since the team will get a seventh year of service from Wieters if he’s brought up at the right time (mid May.) Granted he’ll most likely have Super Two status, but that’s not a problem for me.

There were a few comments around the blogosphere about this. Shyster’s was classic, however I wanted to cite something from Baseball Musings:

I really wonder how much holding back Longoria helped in him signing a long-term contract. I’m guessing you offer any first-year player a nice, long-term deal, he’s going to take it. If the Orioles came to Wieters with a seven-year, $50 million deal, he’s signing on the dotted line. Instead, Baltimore plays games with service time, instead of getting someone who might bring the fans out into the lineup.

As many people recall, Evan Longoria signed a six year deal (for 17MM) within days after his callup last April (it can grow to nine at 45MM.) It’s a great move for Tampa Bay, however there was some risk attached to it initially. Many fans loved the move, Scott Boras however naturally hated it. The reason why? The owners are getting top talent at below-market prices.

I disagree with David Pinto’s comment, and fully expect Wieters to go year to year. The reason why, he’s represented by Boras. Boras has the best catching prospect to come along in two decades under his umbrella, why would he want to lock up this kid as soon as he can. Wieters has time, and if Boras takes him year to year, he’ll maximize his earnings.

Take Mark Teixeira. The Rangers offered him a eight year, 140MM deal a couple years ago. Boras shrugged it off, and the Rangers (knowing that they weren’t going to be able to keep Tex) dealt him to the Braves for a slew of prospects, which include Jarrod Saltamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Netfali Feliz, Scott Feldman, … (oh vey, easily the biggest haul of prospects I have ever seen.)

Granted I don’t expect the Orioles to deal Wieters to someone else, but at the same time I don’t expect him to sign any long term deals. Boras knows what he’s doing. If you throw in Stephen Strasburg, Boras has the best battery of prospects that has ever come up in the past 15 years under his wing. He’s naturally going to get them the most money they can get.